Sprinkler-top can



April 9, 1929. J. H. KUECHENMEISTER 1,708,582

' SPRINKLER TOP CAN Filed Aug. 1925 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN H. KUECHENMEISTER, OF CLAYTON, MISSOURI.

SPRINKLER-TOP CAN.

Application filed. August 5, 1925.

My invention relates to sprinkler, or shaker top cans, more particularly to top closing means, and, has for its object to provide a distinct and practical improvement to overcome certain practical objections to, and defects in, cans having a perforated fixed top closure and a perforated cover therefor which is rotatably mounted thereon.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paper tube can having a fixed perforated metallic top closure and a rotatable perforated metallic cover therefor provided with resilient means for automatically rotating the perforated cover in either direction when pressure is relieved to move the perforations thereof out of register with the perforations of the fixed top closure of the can for closing the top of the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring cover closing element for shaker top cans which is connected to and suspended from a rotatable can cover and concealed within the upper part of the can.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a U-shaped spring wire element,

the terminals of which are connected to a rotat-able cover for shaker top cans and the re mainder of the wire element passing through a slotted opening in a fixed perforated top closure for the can and suspended within the can.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the U-shaped spring member with a coil midway its ends for closing perforated can covers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a shaker top can which possesses advantages in points of simplicity and efficiency and at the same time prove itself comparatively inexpensive in cost of manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear hereinafter, the invention consists in the novel featuresof construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is a view in perspective of a shaker top can provided with a cover closer embodying the features of my invention.

Serial No. 48,209.

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of a can pro vided with my invention.

Fig. 3, is a sectional detail of the upper portion of a can showing one arm of the spring element applied to the rotatable top cover and depending therefrom and through the opening in the fixed top closure. L

Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the fixed top closure showing the slotted opening therein.

Flg. 5, is an inverted perspective View of the rotatable top cover with the spring element applied thereto.

Fig. 6, is a view showing the spring passlng through the slotted opening in the fixed closure and engaging the end walls thereof.

1g. 7, is a view showing the spring applied to a modified form of top closure and rotatable cover therefor.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 represents a container whether made from paper, fiber, or metal, which is provided at its lower end with a .suitable metallic closure 2 which closure is suitably fixed to the lower edge of the container 1.

In the embodiment of the invention, the upper end or top of the container 1 is provided with a metallic closure 3, the peripheral edge of which is fixed to the top edge ofthe tube by the usual rolling and crimping process to provide the outwardly. curved or roller peripheral edge A. The fixed closure 3 is provided with an upwardly dished. central section 5 extending above the rolled peripheral edge 4 of the closure 3. The central section 5 is provided with a plurality of suitable spaced perforations, or outlet openings 6 arranged in a circle, or otherwise. and the closure, is also provided with a marginal annular channel 7 bordering the dished section 5, the fioor 8 of which channel is provided with a suitable slotted opening 9, or its equivalent. V

A suitable upwardly dished cover 10 is rotatably mounted upon the fixed perforated closure 3. The peripheral edge of the cover 10 is rolled downwardly and inwardly over the peripheral rolled edge 4 of the fixed closure 3 to prevent other than rotary displacement of the cover 10 upon the fixed closure 3. The rotatable closure 10 is provided with a plurality of outlet openings, or perforations 10 which are arranged'to be normally out of register with the openings 6 of the the discharge of fitrtliercontents'of the can through the openings of cover 10, after the cover 10 hasbeen manually rotated from its normally closed position to either of lts-open positions, I employ a spring Wire element coiled-midway its endsas at 11 and terminating from the coil 11 twoupwardly' directed spacedarms 12, which arms-12 are'preferably bent outwardly and-away from eac'h other,-al though not necessarily so and which arms 12 have their extremities b61115 outwardly away from each other, as at and connected to the rotatable coverby passing through slits 14 in the cover 10' near the periphera-l edge thereof. These slits l f permiti the metalseetions 1 5 between the slits to be pressed downwardly sufficient to permit the ends 13*of the spring element to be seated upon these depressed sections 1:5 and held between the sectionsand the adjacentsections ofthe cover 10 After the ends 13 have been positioned, the depressed cover sections 15* are pressed back to substant-ially normal positionso as" to give a substantially smooth finishtothe topsur-faceof the cover 1 0 and eliminateopenings due to slitting the cover 10.

It Will be'here observed that the arms 12 of the spring element pass downwardly through the slotted opening 9 in the fixed closure 3 and are directed into 'the interior of the container close to the inner face ofthecontainer wall. The arms 12, it will also be observed both normally engage the end'walls'16- of theslottedopening 9 when the cover 10 is in a closed position. v

Now, whenitis desired torotate the cover 10 in either direction, it will beobsei'iied that the far arm in direction of rotation will stand stationary and in contact with its respective end wall 16 of the slot!) While the other arm will be forced away from its respective end wall 16 of the slot?) and moved toward the stationary arm 12. During this rotary movement of the cover 10, it will also be observed that the depressed cover section 15-is in sliding contact with the upper outwardly directed end of the stationary arm 12, but is not permitted to be withdrawn fromthe slits due to the length of the outwardly bent ends of the arms 12, as is manifest.- By this .arrangement, it is evident that the cover 10 can be rotated ineither direction and that just as soon as the hand or fingers are released from the cover 10 after rotating the same in either direction, the spring arms 12 willdmmediate- 1y expand or spread apart to normal position thereby automatically rotating the cover 10 from its open position back to its closed position.

In the modification shown in Fig. 7, I have shown my spring closing device as applied to the fixed closure 3 is flat and disposedbelow the rolled peripheral edge 4 of the fixed closure 3 which necessitates the cover 10 therefor to be provided with a depressed flat central section 17 to engage the flat raised central section 5 of the fixed closure 3 instead of being upwardly dished, as shown in Fig. 6.

It is'eviden't that my spring element is'applicable to other forms and types of cans'or tu-be'closures as long as the'closure-has a fi xed anda rotatable cover therefor.

The many advantages of the herein-described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art towhich it appertains.

I- do not Wish to be understood as having limited myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, but desire to haveit understood that the invention I have shown in the drawings is merelyillustrative, asit manifest that various minor changes maybe madelin the exact construction and particular arrangement of parts without: departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I reserve the right to mak-e any such changes, or modifications asrmay fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairlyconstrued.

v hat I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a tubular member, a fixed bottoin closure therefor, a

fixedperforated top closure therefor having an are shaped slotted opening. therein, aperforated cover rotatably mounted upon said top closure, a spring memberconnected' at two spaced points with the perforated cover and depending therefrom through "the slotted opening of the fixed perforated top closure and. into the tubular membeigthe end edges r a container wherein the central section 5 of of said slotted openingacting as stops for the spring member to engage when manually rotating the perforated cover to open position in either direction:

2. In a deviceof the classdescribed, the combination with a perforated top closure fixed to a container, of a perforated cover rotatably mounted upon said top closure, an arc shapcd'slot in-said, top closure, a spring having normally diverging arms each connected in spaced relation to said rotatable cover and passing downwardlythrongh said slot and one of the end edges of said slot acting as a stop for one arm of the spring when the cover is rotated to open position in one direction and the other end edge of said slot acting as a stop for the other 'arm of the spring when'the cover is rotatedt'o open positionin an opposite direction.- 3. In combination with a container having a fixed perforated top closure and a rotatable perforated cover for said top closure, of a spring having diverging arms fixed at their ends to said rotatable cover, a slot in the fixed top closure through which the arms of the spring pass and the end edges of said slot acting as stops for the arms of the spring to prevent movement of one of the arms of the spring when rotating the cover in one'direction and to prevent movement of the other arm of the spring when rotating the cover in the opposite direction.

4-. In combination with a sprinkler top container having a fixed perforated top closure and a perforated rotatable cover therefor, of a V-shaped spring member formed from a single continuous wire witha pair of opposed spaced arms of equal length terminating from a loop midway the ends of the arms, both of said arms passing through a single slotted opening in the fixed top closure and having their extremities bent and directed away from each other and connected at spaced points to the rotatable top cover for automatically rotating the top cover back to a closed position from an open position'and normally holding the cover in its closed position.

5. In a container, a fixed perforated top end closure having an annular marginal channel provided with an are shaped slotted opening, a rotatable cover mounted upon said top end closure, resilient means connected at two points to said rotatable cover and depending therefrom through the are shaped slotted opening and into the container for normally holding the cover in a closed position and said resilient member normally engaging the end walls of the are shaped slotted opening.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fixed perforated top closure for a tubular container, a perforated rotatable cover mounted thereon, a spring membcr having diverging arms directed from a loop midway the ends of the spring member, said arms being connected at their free ends with the rotatable cover so that the spring member will be suspended therefrom, an annular channel formed in the fixed perforated top closure and the bottom of said channel being provided with an are shaped slot the end edges of which are adapted to contact with said arms at spaced points below their connections with the perforated rotatable cover so that whenthe rotatable cover is rotated in either direction from its normally closed position with relation to the fixed perforated top closure one arm of the spring member will be moved under tension toward the other a rm to automatically rotate the rotatable cover back to its normally closed position when released from rotation to an open position with relation to the fixed perforated top closure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to the specification.

JOHN H. KUEOHENMEISTER. 

